Kurdish New Year Newroz was celebrated in 9 separate cities in Cizire region in Northern Syria where support for the Resistance of the Age in Afrin came to the fore. The resistance of Afrin against invading forces of Turkey and allied jihadist groups left its mark on the Newroz celebrations in Dêrik, Tirbespiyê, Qamişlo, Girkê Legê, Amudê, Tirbesiyê, Serêkaniyê, Tiltemir and Hesekê.

Arabs, Kurds and Syriacs flocked to the Newroz Square in Qamishlo and chanted slogans and sang marches in solidarity with the resistance of Afrin. The Newroz fire was lit by mothers of four martyrs, after which speeches in Kurdish, Arabic and Syriac languages were held on behalf of the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria and peoples. Speakers stressed that resistance will be enhanced in the new phase of the struggle against the Turkish state and ISIS-Al-Qaeda gangs in Afrin.

People unfurled posters of Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan, YPG-YPJ flags and photographs of fighters martyred in the Resistance of the Age in Afrin.

Following the opening speeches in Arabic and Kurdish, Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan’s Newroz perspective was heard, followed by musical performance and a speech by TEV-DEM Executive Committee member Aldar Xelil.

Xelil underlined that the resistance in Afrin will definitively end up in victory, saying; “Refusing a life of slavery can only be possible through resistance. The resistance will not continue militarily alone. The struggle of Afrin’s people, all peoples of Syria and other parts of Kurdistan, and the actions in Europe are a part of this resistance. New steps will be taken in diplomatic and political areas. At such a time when our enemies unite, we must also stregthen our unity.”

Remarking that the Turkish state is dividing the lands of Syria by raising its own flag in Afrin, Xelil said; “The Turkish state fails to assert this situation as legitimate and fort his reason it needs collaborators. There was a meeting held in Antep and some collaborators were invited to this meeting. The Kurdish people know very well these persons that collaborate with Turkish intelligence MİT against Rojava and Northern Syria Revolution for years. The legitimate administration of Afrin is the Afrin Canton administration that hundreds of thousands voted for and elected with their democratic will.”

Following Xelil, Nezira Gewriye spoke on behalf of Syriac people and Tariq Hemud on behalf of Arab people. Representatives of both folks gave messages of solidarity with the people of Afrin and vowed to continue with their struggle against invasion.